Watch-regulator



4 sheets-Sheet 1.

' (No Model.)

0'. E. JONES.

WATCH REGULATOR.

No. 365,688. Patented June 28,1887.

N. Farms. Pmwumn mv. walhingtnn, n. c

I l) v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. 0. E. JONES.

WATCH REGULATOR.

No. 365,688. Patented June 28, 1887.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 C. E. JONES.'

WATCH REGULATOR. No. 365,688. PatentedJune 28,1887.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

0. E. JONES.

WATCH REGULATOR.

N0,365,688. Patented June 28, 1887.

\ 1 lli UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES EDWARD JONES, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS.

WATCH-REGULATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,688, dated June 28, 1887.

Application filed February 24, 1887. Serial No. 228,748. (No model.)

- of said parts when united and in position upon a balance-cock;

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views of the upper sideof the same, and show the centeringmechanism in two positions. Figs.

5 and 6 are like views'of the lower side of the t mechanism, and show, respectively, the arrangements of parts shown in Figs. 3 and 4; and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of said mechanism. a

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures. I 1

The design of my invention is'to enablethe effective length of the hair-spring of a watch to be readily increased or diminished and the balance to be placed in heat without removal from the watch; to which end said invention consists, principally, in a watch-movement in which the outer end of the hair-spring is confined between and supported by two contiguous studs, and is adapted to be moved longitudinally through the same by the rotation of 7 one of said studs, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

It consists, further, in a watch-movement in which the outer end of the hair-spring is supported by and is held between two studs, one of which is adapted to be rotated, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown.

It consists, further, as a means for supporting the outer end of a hair-spring and regulating the operative length of the spring, in a stationary stud and a contiguous pivoted stud, which studs are held with a yielding pressure against opposite sides of said spring, substantially as and'for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

It consists, further, in a watch-movementin which the outer end of the hairspring is con* fined within and made longitudinally adjust- 1 able through a suitable support, and such support is adapted to be moved around the axis of the balance, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified. 7

It consists, finally, in a watclrmovement in which are combined a balance and staff, a hair-spring having its inner end confined upon said staff, studs that are adapted to support and confine the outer end of said hair-spring and to vary its operative length, and thereby change the time of the vibrations of said balance,and means whereby said supporting-studs may be moved upon or around the axis of the latter, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown.

In the carrying of my invention into practice the balance A, staff B, cock D, and hairspring E are of any usual form. Upon said cock is pivoted a bar, F, which has the general form of the ordinary regulator, and upon its rear end is provided with a radial boss,f, and from one side of said rear portion has a spring-arm,f, that extends in a curve rearward, outward, and then inward, so as to bring its end direetlyin rear of said bossf. Within the lower side of the boss f is secured one end of a stud, f which from thence extends downward a short distance, and upon its rear side has a flat or slightly convex face, while within the lower side of the enlarged end of the spring-armf is pivoted one end of a round stud, f?, that extends downward parallel and team equal distance with said studf' Said pivoted stud fits closely within its bearing in said spring-arm, but may be easily turned therein by means of an arm, f, which is secured to its upper end and projects radially rearward over the cock D, upon the face of which latter, beneath the outer end of said arm, is provided a graduatedscale, d. A similar scale, d, is also preferably provided beneath the front end of the bar F, but may be omitted,if desired. The outer end of the hairspring E is contained between thestuds f and f, where it is firmly held by the inward pressure of the spring-arm f. The study may have its surface roughened by grooves, crossmarks, or in any desired manner; or said surface may be 'filled with diamond-dust or other similar material, the object sought being to cause said stud to engage with or bite the contiguous side of said spring with sufficient firmness to enable the latter to be moved longitudinally whenever said stud is turned upon its axis, during which operation said spring slides over the stationary stud f".

In the use of the mechanism described,when the balance is placed in the movement, the hair-spring is given an approximately correct position upon the balance-staff and its outer end then passed between the clamping-studs, after which the balance is placed in beat by moving the pivoted bar, and the time then tested. Should the train run too fast or slow, thespring is lengthened or shortened by the action of the pivoted stud, and the balance again placed in beat by means of the pivoted bar, such changes being repeated until the de sired accuracy is obtained.

It will be seen that the clamping-studs perform the offices of the usual hair-spring, stud and pin, and the regulator-pins, and that in addition they enable both the actual length and the operative length of the hair-spring to be varied at will without requiring that the outer end of said spring should be loosened or detached from its support. In addition to these advantages, said hair spring operates from a solid outside support, instead of the usual loosely-confining regulator-pins,whereby its action is rendered more positive and certain, and no possibility exists for the hooking up of two or more coils of the spring, which is a frequent occurrence in watchmovements of the usual construction, and operates to materially increase the vibrations of the balance. The regulation of a watch by this mechanism will probably require more skill than is possessed by others than watchrepairers; but the results secured are far more certain and can be attained in less time than by the mechanism heretofore in use.'

The arrangement by which a balance may be placed in heat effects alarge saving in time and enables the operator to easily and quickly secure absolute accuracy without removing the balance from the train, while by the method heretofore in use,in order to correct any error, it is necessary that the collet at the inner end of the hair-spring should be turned upon the staff until said collet occupies upon the latter the precise circumferential position desired, and each time that it is changed the balance must be removed from and replaced in the movement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A watch-movement in which the outer end of the hair-spring is confined between and supported by two contiguous studs, and is adapted to be moved longitudinally through the same by the rotation of one of said studs, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A watch-movement in which the outer end of the hair-spring is supported by and is held between two studs, one of which is adapted to be rotated, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

3. As a means for supporting the outer end of a hair-spring and regulating the operative length of the spring, a stationary stud and a contiguous pivoted stud, which studs are held with a yielding pressure against oppositesides of said spring, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth. Y

4. A watch-movement in which the outer end of the hair-spring is confined within and made longitudinally adjustable through a suitable support, and such support is adapted to be moved around the axis of the balance, sub stantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. A watch-movement in which are com bined a balance and staff, a hair-spring having its inner end confined upon said staffistuds that are adapted to support and confine the outer end of said hair-spring and to vary its operative length, and thereby change the time of the vibrations of said balance, and means whereby said supporting-studs may be moved upon or around the axis of the latter, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of January, 1887.

CHARLES ED\VARD JONES.

\Vitnesses:

\VILLIAM N. WHITE, GEORGE E. LITTLEFIELD. 

